AIM: To present our experience with endoscopic ligature of the sphenopalatine artery in the treatment of severe posterior epistaxis. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical prospective METHOD: During a 56 month-period, 31 patients with severe posterior epistaxis who were treated using an endoscopic ligature of the sphenopalatine artery were reviewed. RESULTS: Nineteen (61.3%) patients were male and 12 (38.7%) female, with ages ranging from 15 to 80 years, with an average age of 44.7 years. The endoscopic ligature of the sphenopalatine artery was performed unilaterally in 29 patients and bilaterally in 2 cases, with a total of 33 ligatures. It was possible to identify the sphenopalatine artery in all cases and we succeeded in using the surgical technique alone. CONCLUSION: Endonasal endoscopic ligature of the sphenopalatine artery is an effective and safe surgical technique to treat severe posterior epistaxis.
epixtasis; endoscopic ligature of the sphenopalatine artery; treatment
